A Veteran's Message of Thanksgiving Hope

A Veteran’s Message of Thanksgiving Hope

by Donna Teresa

With Thanksgiving approaching, many of us are fortunate to be together with our families. For our military men and women who must be away from their families this holiday season, it is a painful separation.

There are many military families who have more than one member in a household deployed. And, there are families who have had generations serve in different wars.

One veteran no longer wears the uniform, but still volunteers his time to make sure his fellow veterans and their families get the resources they need to help them live a quality life they deserve.

Keith King served in the U.S. Army from 1969-71 with the 18th Brigade, 218th and 630th MP companies serving in Nha Trang and Cam Ranh Bay in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

Today, King owns and operates his own advertising agency. He is the president of the Veterans Support Foundation, which provides funds for homeless shelters, and the Veterans Against Drug Program. He also is the national public affairs chairman for the Vietnam Veterans of America.

King is involved with building a Veterans Park in Detroit to honor Detroit veterans of all wars. With many veterans coming home from this conflict and many from previous wars still in search of employment, King is a supporter of veteran-owned businesses and encouraging local, state and federal governments to do their part in helping veterans during these tough economic times.

As the father of Jeffrey King, a Desert Storm veteran with the 24th

Mechanized Infantry, Keith King understands the concern and worry of parents who have children serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Love your child, tell them that you are proud of them, and send them letters, food, cards," King advises.

"Let them know that they are coming back to a family where they will be accepted and loved. They will be changed and they may not be able to stay at home for long, but just having those thoughts in the back of their mind will make the time that they are away and the time they are in combat more bearable."

He is also concerned for those returning home from combat.

"Heath care is always an issue for veterans, regardless of where we served. Heath care is not only for physical health, it must include mental health treatment. Combat causes extreme mental issues, we are trained to kill the enemy and we see our friends get killed," King says.

"Then, when we come home we are told to forget it or held up to public ridicule for it. The stress and mental strain causes damage to our bodies and the self medication issues like drug and alcohol abuse must be addressed. The VA must help our combat veterans with their readjustment issues."

King has a special message to veterans. "If you are able to help your fellow veterans do it. I can tell you for as much as I have given, I’ve gotten back a hundred times more peace of mind and goodwill. If we don’t help each other, no one else will. When you get hugged by a Gold Star mother for something you did to honor her child or a veteran gives you a hug, those hugs help heal your soul. I, like many Vietnam veterans hid our service. Don’t let that happen a second time. These young people deserve our respect and heartfelt thanks."

When you sit around the table this Thanksgiving and count your blessings, please keep in your thoughts those families who have an empty chair at their table. Give thanks for these brave Americans who have served our country past and present.

Thank you, Keith King, for your giving spirit and kindness you have shown to our veterans and families.

Donna Teresa can be reached at [email protected].
Homefront Journal Donna Teresa writes about a veteran’s message of Thanksgiving hope, only at montereyherald.com.